Actors who played Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson – CNET

Ian McKellen

In the 2015 film Mr. HolmesIan McKellen plays an elderly version of Sherlock Holmes who’s long since retired from crime sleuthing. The film is set during 1947, with Holmes living on a remote Sussex farm with his widowed housekeeper, Mrs. Munro (Laura Linney), and her young son, Roger (Milo Parker). Angry at Watson’s (Colin Starkey) latest fictionalization of his last case, The Adventure of the Dove Grey Glove, Holmes decides to write his own version, but his memories are starting to slip away. Young Roger’s curiosity and constant prodding helps Holmes remember the case, which is shown in flashbacks during the film.